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May 27, 2005

How to Change Oil in a Vanagon

Changing the oil is one of the simplest and most important bits of preventative maintenance one can do, especially in a delicate engine like the Vanagon's Wasserboxer.

You don't need to be a mechanic to do it, and the local JiffyLube can't always be trusted to do it right. Many Vanagon owners seem to do complex repairs on their own, and will consider this child's play. If you are a newbie, though... read on.

Disclaimer: I'm not a mechanic, just a normal moron. This is what seems to work on my Vanagon and is in accordance with the owner's manual and the amateur expert opinion on the mailing lists. Don't try this at home, etc.

First you want to assemble your tools. Its a real pain to stop in the middle and walk back inside or to the garage to rummage around while you are dirty.

For a full change, you'll need:

  • 4.8 quarts (5 bottles) of oil. The type varies, and there are numerous debates on what is best. I'm using 20w-50 dinosaur oil (as opposed to synthetic). The 20w-50 is because I am in Southern California and its getting HOT. Up in Washington, I used a much thinner oil, better at low temperatures.

  • Oil pan. Get this at your local auto parts store. You drain the oil into it and then use it to transport the dirty oil to a recycling center (often the same place you got the pan). Don't use milk jugs or makeshift containers which are likely to spill, leak, and tip over. They also tempt you to illegally dump the oil. Spend the $8, it should last forever.

  • 13mm socket + wrench. You -could- use a box wrench, but a ratchet will really make it so much easier. Ensure this is the right size for your drain plug.

  • New crush washer for oil plug. If you skip this, you'll get a drippy leak, I promise. I've learned the hard way. You won't ruin your engine by not changing this out, and its better to change your oil on time, but really... go ahead and order 6 or 12 of them, they are cheap.

  • New oil filter. Do this every other time, or every time if you are uptight. Use slightly less oil if you don't change it (4.5q vs 4.8q).

  • Oil filter wrench. Not mandatory, but makes it so much easier. I use a great design from Griot's Garage. Spendy, but should last forever and is really a pleasure to use.

  • Latex gloves, paper towels, trashbags. Make it all so much cleaner.

    Put on your housepainting clothes or coveralls, get all your items ready, and get to it.

    1. It's easiest to start with a warm engine (not too hot). You want to loosen up the oil but you don't want to burn yourself. A brief drive around the block or a few minutes warming up in your driveway should be sufficient.

    2. Put all your tools and items within easy reach, yet out of the way. I have huge bumpers which I use as a convenient shelf.

    3. Put on your latex gloves.

    4. Get the oil pan under the back wheels. Grab your 13mm wrench and lay on your back under and between the back wheels. You dont strictly need to lay down, but its so much easier, just do it. Get a towel or something if you want, but I just bite the bullet and lay on whatever rocks or crap I haven't swept out of the way. You'll see the oil drain plug in the middle, its the only 13mm bolt that is easy to get to. Get the oil plan as close to under it as possible (make sure lid is off the pan).

    5. Carefully remove the plug. The oil might start to flow around it right before the plug comes out, so be ready. It might also be uncomfortably warm if you heated up the engine too much, so be careful yet not timid. Its ok to just let the bolt fall onto the screen of your oil pan, if it has a screen. Here's a thoughtful tip from a reader:


      ...Before pulling drain plug, put the new oil bottles in the driver seat. That way if one gets side-tracked, there is little chance that the VW is started with no oil in the engine.

      - Eric&Barb

    6. Open the oil filler (behind the rear license plate). This helps the oil drain.

    7. Wait. While waiting for it to drain, clean your socket wrench and drain plug. Replace the old crush washer on the plug with a new one.


    8. Remove the oil filter. When the oil stops flowing, carefully move the pan closer to the oil filter. This is the cylindrical object on the left side (when facing rear of van). If your pan is big enough, you can position it to catch oil from the drain plug and filter at the same time. You can also replace the oil plug and then do the filter.

    9. Wait for the additional oil to drain out, and drain the filter too. This makes easier cleanup, as quite a bit of oil can be inside the filter.

    10. Replace the filter. Wipe a thin film of oil onto the rubber gasket of the new filter (theres probably plenty on your glove) and install it. Hand-tighten it, and then give it an 1/8th of a turn with the wrench (unless your hands are really strong).

    11. Replace the drain plug (if you didn't already).

    12. Fill the engine with your fresh oil. Its awkward to do the last one, and awkward to have just 200ml of oil left, but the bottles are usually windowed and marked so you can see how much is left.

    13. Close the oil filler cap. This is a good time to take off your gloves, grab some paper towels, and wipe up the messes you've made. I put the lid back on the oil pan and then put it into a fresh garbage bag. This makes it easier to carry it around, into the facility for recycling, etc. No matter how careful I am, I always get the outside of the pan oily.

    14. Get all your tools, empty oil bottles, and oil pan out of the way. Start up the engine and run it for a few minutes. Then look for leaks (you got that oil plug in all the way right? You changed the crush washer, right?). Check the oil level on the dipstick.

      Repeat every 3,000 miles. I replace the oil filter every other or every 3 changes. With each change while I was on my 12,000 mile trip.

      Your Vanagon will thank you!

      Posted by dokodemo at 01:40 PM | TrackBack

      May 16, 2005

      Nubby

      Half of dokodemo is bringing the comforts of home to the wide world outside. The other half is bringing the outdoors in. This is a Litoria caerulea, or White's (dumpy) Treefrog from Indonesia. Named Nubby, he lives in a glass vivarium under a fluorescent lamp and ceramic heating element. He's about an inch long, but will grow to about 4 inches.

      Posted by dokodemo at 04:01 PM

      May 04, 2005

      In the Galley

      From a recent discusson on SouthWesties:

      I use a nesting set from MSR, made for backpacking but works great in the van. It has a 2 pot/bowls, frying pan, and plate which is also pot lid. The set included a teapot also. Inside I added another set: a plastic bowl with snapon lid, inside that are some various little jars to hold ingredients, and a folding spatula, ladle, and strainer.

      It works fairly well. The frying pan has a removable handle. I also have the pilers-like holder to grip the edge of the pot.

      Link to the cookset:

      and the plastic stuff

      I'm not strongly advocating these sets, just sharing what has worked really well for me.

      I also carry a tiny titanium pot and tiny stove which I use for backpacking. It is handy in the van during times when:

      - I run out of main propane
      - Someone is asleep in the van and I just want some tea or noodles without making a big production
      - Carrying up a hill or out on the beach for a hot drink away from the van

      I mostly camp alone, and eat right out of the pot in many cases. For trips with friends, I usually just bring along a few plates/etc from the kitchen to make things more civilized. I wouldnt mind finding a picnic set, but one hasnt caught my eye yet. I use a nalgene water bottle for drinking n driving, and one of those metal coffee cups with a lid for the strong stuff. Actually, the one I have been using has started to leak, so I'm on the lookout for a replacement.

      I've taken a rice cooker out a few times, I am not sure if it is worth the hassle or not. I don't usually camp where there is electricity, and I dont like using my 2nd battery/inverter juice on something so decadent.

      Posted by dokodemo at 09:53 AM | TrackBack

      SouthWesties

      As a spinoff from the wonderful "Pacific Northwest Camping Society" known as the WetWesties, I've set up a similar mailing list for those in Southern California.

      If you are in the area, interested in VW camping, feel free to sign up. No need to own a camper, just be interested in communicating with others who are. Hopefully we will have a website up soon. For now, here is the mailing list info

      Posted by dokodemo at 09:45 AM